Death toll in Bangladesh ferry crash climbs to 142
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Authorities say the death toll in this week's ferry accident in Bangladesh has climbed to 142 after police found three more bodies.
Local police chief Mohammad Shahabuddin Khan says three decomposing bodies surfaced Friday, three days after the double-deck ferry collided with a cargo boat and sank in the Meghna River just south of Dhaka.
Local media quoted relatives as saying about a dozen people were still unaccounted for.
The ferry was carrying more than 200 people when it sank Tuesday. Authorities said about 35 were rescued, while local media reported another 40 swam to shore.
Ferry accidents are common in Bangladesh, a low-lying delta nation crisscrossed by more than 230 rivers. They are often blamed on overcrowding, faulty vessels and lax rules.
